About the Project Understanding the rules of species evolution is a fundamental question in biology. The emergence, spread and demise
of harmful organisms, which can cause pandemics, is particularly important. You will focus on the bacterial species Vibrio cholerae . Currently, we cannot explain how the strain causing the current cholera pandemic arose, let alone predict why, where or when the next one might arise. The “success” of V. cholerae depends on its ability to adapt to different surroundings. Normally, the bacterium resides in aquatic environments and persists by forming biofilms on the chitinous surfaces of plankton and shellfish. These biofilms are rapidly disassembled on ingestion by a human or aquatic host. Following host colonisation, disease is caused by the extrusion of toxins. Hence, to understand what is special about the “pandemic” strain, it is essential to understand how the bacterium is able to switch between lifestyles. Recent work has generated a wealth of V. cholerae genome sequences (>10,000) from decades of outbreaks associated with the current worldwide pandemic. You will use these data to try and understand key genetic changes that influence lifestyle choice and pandemic potential. You will apply bacterial genomics, molecular biology, and host organism colonisation models, to study lifestyle changes. Haycocks, JRJ, Warren, GZL, Walker, LM, Chlebek, JL, Dalia, TN, Dalia, AB, Grainger, D (2019) The quorum sensing transcription factor AphA directly regulates natural competence in Vibrio cholerae . PLoS Genetics . 15:e1008362. Walker, LM, Haycocks, JRJ, van Kessel, JC, Dalia, TN, Dalia, AB, Grainger, D (2023) A simple mechanism for integration of quorum sensing and cAMP signalling in V. cholerae . eLife 12:RP86699 Funding Notes Funded by the MIBTP/BBSRC training programme (all students). You can apply by following this link Understanding the pandemic microbe Vibrio cholerae (you'll need to register your details to log in to the system). View Website provides further important details of the MIBTP programme that you should read prior to applying. References Haycocks, JRJ, Warren, GZL, Walker, LM, Chlebek, JL, Dalia, TN, Dalia, AB, Grainger, D (2019) The quorum sensing transcription factor AphA directly regulates natural competence in Vibrio cholerae . PLoS Genetics . 15:e1008362. Walker, LM, Haycocks, JRJ, van Kessel, JC, Dalia, TN, Dalia, AB, Grainger, D (2023) A simple mechanism for integration of quorum sensing and cAMP signalling in V. cholerae . eLife 12:RP86699
